"ENRICO BARTOLUCCI’s exhibition, VIRAL DREAMS, considers the course of the Covid pandemic through his unique perspective as a lifelong medical professional and native of Italy – a country hit particularly hard with coronavirus cases early on during the pandemic. As the news developed, Bartolucci began creating works to process what was happening in that moment in time.
Bartolucci built up each canvas and panel with sculptural, geometric forms then painted in layers with a mostly bright acrylic palette. The resulting dimensional paintings presented in a particular order create a linear narrative of the crisis that explores the phases of how the world reacted– from the initial and ongoing fear and confusion to the hope that the new vaccine inspired. Also referenced in the body of work is the scientific research produced in an effort towards answers on how the virus came to be, how it spreads, and how we might overcome it."